We Are All Miners

The Chile mine saga and a message for the High Holidays.

"Estamos bien en el refugio los 33." Seven simple words in Spanish scrawled on a piece of paper in red pencil, set hearts ablaze with hope last month. "The 33 of us are fine in the shelter," the words penned by one of the miners trapped deep underground in the Chilean desert, turned a tragedy of unimaginable proportions into a story of hope and tenacity, and have put the entire world on the edge of its seat as the effort to rescue them unfolds.

The story has all the makings of a blockbuster movie. (Undoubtedly, filming rights are already being eyed by the bigwigs in Hollywood, even as prayers are being said for the safe rescue of the men.) For many days the world held its breath. Thirty three men, unaccounted for after a massive collapse in a small, privately owned mine in Chile’s Atacama region. As days turned to weeks, hope began to fade fast, and rescue efforts began to wind down. Then, just when it seemed that the men had been swallowed up by the earth, a boring machine broke through into a cavern over two thousand feet below the surface. When the drill was retracted from the solid rock, that fateful note was found taped to its end.

As communication was established with the trapped men, details of their miraculous survival began to filter through. On the day of the collapse the men had worked overtime, delaying their return to the main shaft for their lunch break by a number of minutes. Had they exited the mine on time, they would have been in the main shaft as thousands of tons of rock came crashing down. Two days later, their attempts to escape the mine through a ventilation shaft were thwarted by a second collapse, and the men retreated to a designated emergency shelter to wait for help from the outside world.

Eighteen days later they were still clinging to life, having survived on two days worth of supplies, each losing between 17 and 20 pounds.

In a remarkable exercise of self-control, the men rationed their food down to a minimum, each consuming a few bites of tuna and tinned fruit each day, washed down with a few gulps of water. Eighteen days later, they were still clinging to life, having survived on two days worth of supplies, each reportedly having lost between 17 and 20 pounds.

But their ordeal has in many ways only just begun. As the world released its collective breath, elation quickly turned to worry, as drilling experts described the achingly long process necessary to bring the men to the surface. A giant boring machine has been brought to the site, and has begun to cut a rescue tunnel into the rock in a process that may take as long as four months.

In the meantime, specialists from around the world have gathered at the surface to nurse the men through their ordeal. NASA has sent a team of experts, who will draw on their experience maintaining astronauts in the hostile and isolating environment of outer space to assist in coaching and caring for the miners.

Until the men can be hoisted up through the rescue shaft, three narrow boreholes have been drilled into the rock, each no wider than a grapefruit. Referred to as their umbilical chord, these three holes will sustain the men for the duration of the long wait, with one having been designated for food, medicine and supplies, the second for oxygen and the third for communication cables to keep them connected to the outside world.

As the families of the miners gathered at the surface, the entire world has been gripped by the tale of these men. Suddenly we were all miners, imagining how we would cope in the nightmarish conditions, in the pitch black, hot and humid tunnels in the bowels of the earth.

Our Channel of Communication

There are no coincidences in our world, and the terrifying ordeal unfolding beneath the Chilean desert perhaps carries a message for us as we approach the High Holidays. In a certain sense, we are all miners. The High Holidays are a time when we stand before God to pray for the new year which lies ahead of us. On these days will be decided our fate, what type of year we will have and what we will receive from on high. Like the men trapped deep underground, we each find ourselves with a single channel of communication to a different realm, a narrow cable that is our source of hope and sustenance, the channel of prayer. And like the miners, our needs are being taken care of from above with love and devotion. Like the miners, we have nowhere else to turn.

Like the miners, our needs are being taken care of from above with love and devotion.

But the parallel runs deeper. When the medical experts on the surface began sending food to the men, they realized that after many days of deprivation, their digestive systems would not be able to cope with solid food, and they chose to initially only send fluids. No doubt the men were asking for more substantial nutrients, but the caring specialists up above knew what was ultimately good for them.

Many times we stand in prayer, asking God to send down what we perceive to be good for us. We need to have the wisdom to recognize that what we are given is really in our best interests, even if it's different than what we asked for.

This year, let us pray for the safe rescue of the 33 men trapped below the Chilean desert. And let us pray that we too will have a year of salvation and hope, sent down to us from Above, with love and care. Because in some small way, we are all miners.

Visitor Comments: 7

The earth has buried this men alive, separated from family ,friends and their normal lives. they have been taken away from all worldly worries and yet life for them continues by the power for HASHEM!

(6)
raul bitran,
September 8, 2010 7:18 PM

Shana tova le kulam, everyone have a great year, hoping to be in eretz ha kodesh next year!
grande los mineros!!! grnade chile!

(5)
Esther Sarah Evans,
September 8, 2010 6:54 AM

b"H - Min HaMaamakim - Tehillim 130

Time for them to recite with real intent "Min HaMaamakim" -- from the depths- Tehillim 130 - and for all of us to say it too - every day as often as our mouths are free of food or other words that have to be there.
Shana tova. Gut Yom tov.
Shabbat Shalom umevorakh. Gut Shabbos.

(4)
helen Schwab,
September 8, 2010 1:40 AM

the miners' channels and our prayesr: a good parallel

Thank you for a most inspiring article.
I'm copying the essence of your inciteful parallel of the miners to all of us, how we are actually dependent on a narrow channel of communication (prayer) to our Father and King for our survival "down here." I plan to put it inside my machsor (prayer book) for Rosh Hashana.
May the miners and all innocent prisoners be released in good health and may Hashem wipe off all tears and rule as King; why not this year?

(3)
Ruth Housman,
September 7, 2010 10:17 PM

life is a mine field

Thank you for an article about a story that needs telling and deep thought, and yes, prayers for these miners and their families, that they might emerge into the daylight.
I do it with words and I have said this so many times, and it is a profound truth as you articulate this in other words. Life is a mine field. It's a mine field in that we might not know when we will step on something, that shakes us deeply as in mines planted in the earth that do shatter, destroy and main.
It is a mine field in that we mine the earth for geodes, for minerals, for vast resources, for gems. And it is a mine field because mine is a word that does pertain to us all.
L'shana tova!

(2)
Yisroel Gelber,
September 7, 2010 7:48 PM

insightful

This a very insightful and well written article.
More articles from Rabbi Taback!!

(1)
Anonymous,
September 7, 2010 4:33 PM

This article speaking of the hope, care and real concern for these miners is immediately engaging. This story is truly about a miracle in our time. They (miracles) do still happen. We must recognize that each one of us could be and maybe some are, in a state of dire needs and conditions. We must pray for them as well as for ourselves as we approach Rosh HaShana. This story gives hope to each of us. What would we do if it happened to us? I know that Hashem is guiding all the good will and activity to bring these 33 men out of their underground shelter to the light of day and their families. Let us all pray for them. Let us pray for the whole world. There are stories like this all around us. Perhaps not in the news, but happening to our neighbors or friends and relatives. Let us all have compassion and forgive and give forgiveness to those who ask. Hashem forgives us and we must forgive and mean it to place ourselves in good stead for the new year 5771. To all those who have prayed for me, given me a really good price for the adornments I need to daven, prayed for my well being, I thank you and I send back to you the good will for the best that you can be and have for this new year.

I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...